Periodical Literature in the Field of Social Services
Popular Magazines: These are the magazines you find at the supermarket. You read them primarily for entertainment, news updates, or to appeal to your special interests.These magazines typically are colorful, have shorter articles (usually with no references), and receive substantial revenue from advertising.
Trade / Professional Publications: These are the magazines and newsletters put out by professional organizations or to appeal to persons in specific occupations. Articles in these periodicals are written by professionals in the field to address news, practical applications, and specific information needs.
Scholarly Journals: These peer-reviewed journals are primarily put out by professional organizations with an emphasis to advance the state of knowledge in a particular field. Articles in these journals are written by professionals in the field, cover theory and research, and include references.
To determine if an item would be considered scholarly, look for the following characteristics:
Length: The article is usually several pages long, and can be more than 20 pages.
Author(s): The article will always list an author or group of authors. Affiliations and credentials are often listed for each.
Audience: The intended audience includes students, researchers, and experts in the field
Refereed: Research is reviewed by peer prior to being accepted for publication
Illustrations: The article may include maps, tables, and graphs the support the text. Colorful photographs are rarely used.
References: The article will always included citations to research discussed throughout the article in the form of footnotes, end notes, and bibliographies.
Language: The article will be written using vocabulary used in the author's field or discipline.
Format: The article will follow a standard format.
Pathfinder address:
https://waynecollegelibrary.wikispaces.com/Information+Literacy+Project+%28Social+Work+Practice%29
Periodical Literature in the Field of Social Services
- Popular Magazines: These are the magazines you find at the supermarket. You read them primarily for entertainment, news updates, or to appeal to your special interests.These magazines typically are colorful, have shorter articles (usually with no references), and receive substantial revenue from advertising.
- Trade / Professional Publications: These are the magazines and newsletters put out by professional organizations or to appeal to persons in specific occupations. Articles in these periodicals are written by professionals in the field to address news, practical applications, and specific information needs.
- Scholarly Journals: These peer-reviewed journals are primarily put out by professional organizations with an emphasis to advance the state of knowledge in a particular field. Articles in these journals are written by professionals in the field, cover theory and research, and include references.
To determine if an item would be considered scholarly, look for the following characteristics:- Length: The article is usually several pages long, and can be more than 20 pages.
- Author(s): The article will always list an author or group of authors. Affiliations and credentials are often listed for each.
- Audience: The intended audience includes students, researchers, and experts in the field
- Refereed: Research is reviewed by peer prior to being accepted for publication
- Illustrations: The article may include maps, tables, and graphs the support the text. Colorful photographs are rarely used.
- References: The article will always included citations to research discussed throughout the article in the form of footnotes, end notes, and bibliographies.
- Language: The article will be written using vocabulary used in the author's field or discipline.
- Format: The article will follow a standard format.
Handout: Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly PublicationsRead one article each from from the scholarly journals entitled, Social Work and Families in Society:
Social Work:
Print: Library owns 2004-2013 (cancelled for 2014)
Online: Full text is available for 1975 to the Present
Families in Society:
Print: Library owns 2004-2013 (cancelled for 2014)
Online: Full text is available for 1996 to the Present
Record the information you will need to formulate an APA citation:
Read two articles from the trade newsletter, NASW News:
Locate an article from a popular magazine or newspaper:
The following magazines are available in the library's periodical collection:
- AARP Bulletin
- AARP the Magazine
- Advocate
- Business Week
- Christianity Today
- Discover
- E: The Environmental Magazine
- Entrepreneur
- Forbes
- Men’s Fitness
- Money
- Ms.
- Out
- Parents
- Policy & Practice (American Public Human Services Association) *
- Provider*
- Psychology Today
- Time
(*Professional / Trade publications)Compare / Contrast the Publications:
Consider: How can you determine that the title is a reliable source?- Does the source tell you about the author(s) and his/her credentials?
- Does the author provide evidence of research? How do you know?
- Is the source scholarly? What does that mean in terms of reliability?
Consider: Who is the intended audience for the publication?Document Your Sources
The Smucker Learning Center's documents and informationStyle Guides in the Library's collection:
Ready Reference LB2369 .G53 2009 MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
Ready Reference BF76.7 .P83 2010 Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
During the library's normal operating hours you can stop by, call, text message, or chat with the library staff live: